N Gauge Forum

General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: swisstony on September 04, 2012, 09:19:52 PM

Title: The most time consuming part of this hobby...
Post by: swisstony on September 04, 2012, 09:19:52 PM
Has got to be weathering the track, I have gone cross eyed and maybe a little bit blind an don't seem to be getting anywhere fast!!!!

(http://i1108.photobucket.com/albums/h407/churcp/7A389E28-F567-4967-B14A-0C879756DAB3-4420-0000046526CB4856.jpg)

(http://i1108.photobucket.com/albums/h407/churcp/E317AF63-7B5A-4CC1-B350-F38131564563-4420-0000046531A722E3.jpg)
Title: Re: The most time consuming part of this hobby...
Post by: port perran on September 04, 2012, 09:26:31 PM
Looks good though and I like the signal box.
Title: Re: The most time consuming part of this hobby...
Post by: Newportnobby on September 04, 2012, 09:34:20 PM
Can't see anything wrong with that, Swiss.
You can come round and do my track if you like :thumbsup: :D
Title: Re: The most time consuming part of this hobby...
Post by: Sprintex on September 04, 2012, 09:36:34 PM
Looks pretty good to me, and yes it does take ages! Well worth it though  ;)


Paul
Title: Re:The most time consuming part of this hobby...
Post by: Jerry Howlett on September 04, 2012, 09:42:14 PM
 :laughabovepost:
Agree looking good (so called) Swiss Tony if you were for real you could nip over the Alps and help sort out MY track colouring... :laugh:

The most time consuming part of this hobby is..... :NGaugeForum:  :P :P :P
Title: Re: The most time consuming part of this hobby...
Post by: swisstony on September 04, 2012, 09:45:19 PM
 :o my name reflects the fact we are all called Paul. Would be too confusing ;)
Title: Re: The most time consuming part of this hobby...
Post by: longbridge on September 04, 2012, 09:50:28 PM
They say "Patience is a Virtue" if thats the case it worked for you, the track looks great  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: The most time consuming part of this hobby...
Post by: tim-pelican on September 04, 2012, 09:51:17 PM
I'm doing mine as I go along.  Solder droppers, paint the track, pin the track back down, attach the droppers to the bus, move on to the next.  It's the thought of ballasting that's intimidating me at the moment...
Title: Re: The most time consuming part of this hobby...
Post by: Sprintex on September 04, 2012, 10:00:40 PM
Don't worry about it Tim, nowt to it  ;)

Spread ballast by hand, get yourself one of these

http://www.boots.com/en/Boots-Travel-Spray-Bottle-100ml_1228697/ (http://www.boots.com/en/Boots-Travel-Spray-Bottle-100ml_1228697/)

as it has a really fine mist, spray ballast with plain water to dampen (stops ballast floating away on glue mix), then use a dropper to carefully flood with PVA/water/washing-up-liquid mix. Leave to dry for hours and job jobbed  :thumbsup:


Paul
Title: Re: The most time consuming part of this hobby...
Post by: swisstony on September 04, 2012, 10:06:22 PM
You can buy a Ballast Spreader which basically lays it for you for £9 well worth it, then do as the other Paul above says

http://shop.mobileweb.ebay.co.uk/searchresults;PdsSession=931a1bd51390a47a19a13821fff43884?kw=N+gauge+ballast+spreader&isNewKw=true&cmd=SREF (http://shop.mobileweb.ebay.co.uk/searchresults;PdsSession=931a1bd51390a47a19a13821fff43884?kw=N+gauge+ballast+spreader&isNewKw=true&cmd=SREF)

Paul
Title: Re: The most time consuming part of this hobby...
Post by: tim-pelican on September 04, 2012, 10:26:09 PM
Ooh, do you know if that will work with the Woodland Scenics foam underlay already in place?  It means I have a sloped shoulder outside of the rails before I start with the ballast...
Title: Re: The most time consuming part of this hobby...
Post by: PLD on September 05, 2012, 08:55:24 AM
To be honest I don't like bright red 'rusty' track. It isn't usually like that on the real thing...

OK it's better than shiny bare nickel silver, but look at the prototype, it is normally dull and more brown/grey shades than red. It is oil and general muck that accumulates on the sides of the rail rather than pure iron-oxide...
Title: Re: The most time consuming part of this hobby...
Post by: swisstony on September 05, 2012, 09:18:48 AM
lol, it's my cameras flash, I actually painted it in Flat Brown  :laugh3:
Title: Re: The most time consuming part of this hobby...
Post by: Cimmerian on September 05, 2012, 10:08:20 AM
If weathering the track is what takes the time then I'm doomed. I bought my controller 25 years ago and I plan on starting my first layout in about a month. (Got sidetracked by a baby and a house move and lack of space due to the previously mentioned baby.  ;D)
Title: Re: The most time consuming part of this hobby...
Post by: Sprintex on September 05, 2012, 03:55:17 PM
Quote from: swisstony on September 05, 2012, 09:18:48 AM
lol, it's my cameras flash, I actually painted it in Flat Brown  :laugh3:

For some reason it always looks red in photos, mine is the same yet I painted them a muddy brown :D


Paul